Bacardi Australia heads Back to the Bar

Over the last four days Bacardi employees across Australia have gathered friends and family and headed out on the town to visit bars and reconnect with the hospitality industry.

The activity, called ‘Back to the Bar’, was designed to show support to bartenders and bar owners as they open up the doors and welcome their guests post the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Traditionally held in February each year, the Bacardi ‘Back to the Bar’ activity sees teams across the world celebrate the day the company was first founded, over 158 years ago, by getting out of the office to do barstool research and speak to cocktail-lovers about the latest trends.

Now, thousands of cocktails will be purchased and enjoyed by the Bacardi team across the world – during July and August, as the company’s #RaiseYourSpirits initiative continues to evolve to support the on-trade.

“The Back to the Bar tradition is a time when everyone across the company, regardless of day job, becomes an ambassador by going back to where our business is made – the local bars and restaurants,” said Mauricio Vergara, Managing Director of Bacardi-Martini Australia. “Now it is our turn to show them our love.”

Bacardi launched its #RaiseYourSpirits initiative in March with a $4million global investment to support bars and restaurant owners and bartenders through the coronavirus crisis.

Bacardi Australia has offered bartender financial advice sessions to clarify government support initiatives, along with ‘Back to Work’ sessions highlighting CV preparation, advice for accurate costing of drinks menus and tax return guidance. It has also been involved in continued rallying and lobbying for more hospitality support from the government and has been providing venue vouchers for Bacardi staff and trade customers along with investment to support cocktails-to-go offerings that have provided financial assistance as the bar industry adapts to the new normal.

Below are photos from Back to the Bar nights at Bulletin Place, The Gresham, The Swinging Cat, Maybe Sammy, Bar Lobo and Doorknock.